About 20 years ago, my life revolved around high school track. I was good, really good, once even winning four events at a state meet and going on to compete in the pentathlon in college.

In my adult life, I have often looked back at that time as a reminder of my ability to push myself beyond what I thought was possible. Even stronger in my memories is everything after the finish line. That includes goofing around as I waited for an event, genuinely celebrating the victories of my teammates, seeing everyone at their highest and lowest physically and emotionally and learning how to support each other.

Perhaps most importantly, it included seeing and trusting the network of adults, officials and coaches who showed up every weekend to help make these complicated events happen. Experiencing the comfort and beauty of being part of a community that was invested in making sure the rules were followed equally for all and helping kids improve their individual performance was far more valuable and foundational to my outlook than I realized at the time.

Maybe that is why I was so emotionally affected by President Trump’s attack on this community and the response from Maine’s elected officials. I was livid at the attack, disgusted by the cowardice of the weak response from Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Jared Golden and moved to tears with thankfulness at the bravery of Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Principals’ Association in standing up for Maine and all female athletes.

Do not for a second delude yourself into thinking that anyone targeting trans students is standing up for the safety of female athletes or fairness. In the best of times, I believe this kind of exclusion adds a nasty level of policing that is detrimental to the spirit of the community. But perhaps then I could accept the value of a debate through proper channels, and indeed it has already been debated by Mainers to get to the rules and laws that exist.

But today, when violence both physical and financial is threatened against any noncompliance and when “transvestigation” witch hunts are started against anyone who doesn’t fit a conservative definition of femininity, I can’t imagine giving even an inch of credence to those who argue for exclusion.

The slide from targeting trans youth to girls more generally is swift and obvious in the very same comments where Trump attempted to bully Gov. Mills. He attacked two biological women as “men” because they do not conform to his ideal. The gender police do not belong on the track or in Maine, a state that may be, as Trump says, more “conservative,” but that I do not believe is cruel or cowardly.

I think that Sen. Collins and Rep. Golden need to strongly rethink their weak response to attacks on Maine children. In my opinion, they have failed their oaths to the Constitution and the country many times this year, but this is a direct attack and eventually they must either find their backbone to protect the people of Maine or resign.

Would I have felt cheated in high school if I lost to a trans athlete? Maybe. But I like to think I would have had the heart and maturity to know that a race that excluded a part of my community wasn’t worth winning. And to those brave girls who are currently under the national microscope, I am so sorry. None of you deserve this. Take comfort in the adults of your community who are still showing up every weekend to give you a place to challenge and improve yourself and be proud of their bravery in standing up for the values of Maine.

If you worry that you will lose something by competing against a trans athlete, I leave you with this. Those four state events that I remember winning so vividly? That story that I have told many times over the years and return to feel confident and valued when I’m low? I looked up the results and it never happened.

I did win one event, and then got a second, third and seventh. Still a remarkable achievement, but that isn’t what has stayed with me 20 years later. The glow and good feeling of that sunny day, working with my coach and celebrating all of my team translated into wins in memory.

What I mean to say is that what will stay with you is not whether you did or didn’t win. It will be the community, the kindness and glow of sportsmanship. Do not let any hate-filled person make you question or forget that. The race is always against yourself. Bring your BEST self to the track, always.